Power hails “important” Andretti chemistry with Kirkwood & Ericsson

Credit: Matt Fraver

Will Power has heaped praise on the relationship built with Andretti Global teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson during his first season with the organisation in 2026.

Given the bond forged this year, the two-time IndyCar champion is pleased with the team’s decision to renew Ericsson’s contract, as was announced this week, for 2027. Kirkwood, who currently sits third in the standings, signed a multi-year extension of his own ahead of this season, meaning the trio will remain unchanged next year.

“It is important,” Power said of the value of team chemistry. “I was really happy to hear that [Ericsson’s renewal]. I have really enjoyed this year because Kyle and Marcus are so good to work with. It’s been a great atmosphere. It would have been a pity not to continue that so really excited that we’re all together again next year. 

“I think we all feel like we’re going to have a great year [in 2027]. We have made big gains this year in many areas, whether it’s pit stops, whether it’s car builds, whether it’s road courses, ovals. It’s all been good stuff. We’ve all contributed. It was very nice to hear that.”

Power’s first year with Andretti, following 17 seasons with Team Penske, has been turbulent. But his disappointing position of 14th in points at present, having recorded only four top-10 results in 12 races, is not necessarily reflective of the pace he has often displayed.

Credit: Bella Rosen

There are the intangibles, too, that have been brought by a driver with such vast experience - and success - at one of the two dominant teams of IndyCar’s modern era.

“You spend so many years in these cars, you have a pretty good idea of where you need to be,” Power said. “Every team has different philosophies. It’s such a competitive environment now that it’s going to be very specific for every track. 

“We certainly made some big changes oval-wise and road course-wise [at Andretti compared to] where they were running last year. It’s all been good. It’s just good to have someone from the outside that has been around another team for a long time. We combined our ideas together and come up with really good stuff. 

“It’s a great team. It really is. Really good people. A great working atmosphere, actually. I find it to be very fun in the engineering office, [with] teammates.”

This weekend at Portland International Raceway marks the latest test of a turnaround in fortunes on road courses for Andretti. Colton Herta was the team’s best-finishing car in 10th place in last season’s Pacific Northwest visit, with Kirkwood and Ericsson both finishing the race a lap down. Ericsson was their best qualifier and only Fast 12 representative in 11th.

It has been an encouraging start to this year’s event, with Kirkwood second overall in Practice 1, having set the quickest alternate-tyre lap of the session. Power ended the session fourth and Ericsson 12th, though the former was not entirely comfortable.

Credit: Paul Hurley

“It was a strange, strange session because it actually got slower on a quicker tyre,” said Power, who won in Portland with Penske last year, theorising that the softer and harder compounds may not have much of a delta come Sunday’s race. “I think what happens is the Indy NXT rubber gets taken off [the track] as you go along; the Indy NXT rubber is quite soft and good. 

“So it’s sort of hard to truly know where we stack up. We certainly were not where we needed to be on the hard compound. We were way off. Definitely have to think about it tonight and see what we need to do to get closer to the mark.”

But as much as there will be some head-scratching overnight to improve his performance on the harder, primary-compound tyre, there is relief for Power in the fact he has teammates he believes he can lean on and that are refreshingly open books within the Andretti camp.

“When you have a teammate that’s really quick - because you have a very good reference, you look at everything,” he said. “I really trust what Kyle’s feedback is. His feedback is very accurate. Definitely good to have a teammate like that.”